Pictures...

 

When it comes to taking pictures, for me - at least, it's point - click - done.  That is why "Wordless Wednesday" is the kind of pictures you might see in any family, it just so happens that they are (mostly) my family.

I have a DSLR camera (which I LOVE), but I've never actually taken the time to play with the settings to figure out all those crazy little details about photography.  However, I do adore photography.  It's one of those things that I find mysterious and captivating.

The photo today - taken by DH and not me, unfortunately - is one I adore.  Gallery quality artwork, in my opinion, and definitely something I would proudly hang on the wall.  It's like a "surprise" Christmas gift!

I'd like to think I had a small part in the picture.  I did, after all, say, "honey, would you go take a picture of the moon?"  I had no idea that the result - - although it may have been a mere "accident" and not intentional - would be this picture (among others). 

Is it a ribbon, like the ones you see for Breast Cancer?    I'm not sure.  But - to me - it's beautiful.


Love: Surprises... once in a while!
Hope: We make it to a local photographer's "show"next week!
Do: Start apple crisp for dessert tonight!
Number: 30 - the number of hiccups the baby produced on the airplane this week.  Of course, 34 (number of weeks pregnant) also comes to mind for today...  As does 2011, for the last time in a while.. 15, for the number of years my bro and his spouse have been together... and 2, for the birthday party we attended today!

Some Days...

Some days, I can easily let things go.  Other days, I brew.

Unfortunately - for some reason - this week I am brewing and stewing and letting something get to me (that likely shouldn't). 

So, for Christmas, I got a "book of AWESOME."  It's a really cool book that has the "positive" attitude that I try to maintain.  As an extra bonus, it seems like it should be a highly bloggable book.  On a day like today, it seems appropriate to pull it out since I need a pick-me-up.

So.... I share with you my first (of many? time will tell..) glimpse of the "AWESOME" book.  After the book excerpt... I'll share a personal "awesome" for the day.

From the book: the first page I flipped to:  Giving babies high-fives.  They never let you down, and they never "psych" you out.

From my day:  Easy-breezy bedtimes.  I tell Kiddo it's bedtime, and he gets up to head to his room (only turning back, at my request, to give out goodnight hugs and kisses).  Then a book, and no tears, and bedtime is done.  Yep, AWESOME.

Love:  Sweets.  Of any kind.  But today, pumpkin pie with whipped cream and chocolate/caramel popcorn come to mind.
Hope:  I can just "let it go" (that is, the thing I am stewing about...)
Do: Get some shopping in over the next few days (or go crazy... however, I choose shopping!)
Number: 7

Holiday time is here!

I always enjoy seeing and spending time with family over the holidays.  I'm a little sad that I live so far away from so many dear friends, however.  So today - my beloved readers are in for a rare treat.  One they have not seen in quite some time.  What's that, you ask?  (a small digression first.... my DH described my blog as"playful" - and I think one of the reasons why is this type of question - followed by a digression before the answer.  At least, that is what I will continue to think!)


The answer?  This blog will include words (the usual whatever is on my mind) and pictures, both!

This year, we decided to open family Christmas presents before heading out of town.  Here is Kiddo, opening his favorite toy - - which nearly prevented him from opening anything else he got from Mom and Dad - a"Race Car"! Daddy knows best!

Speaking of Daddy... Kiddo and his daddy, chilling out...

 

 My BIL with his 3 boys, out in the pasture... feeding the cows...

I was also "helping" with the feeding of the cows.  No worries, despite how it looks, that is not my water breaking!

Kiddo loves puppies.  This guy, Raffin, is especially fun because he can spend hours and hours playing ball - and he even drops the ball for you!

 Yeah, I'm pregnant.  Really pregnant.  In fact, 32 weeks.  I'm also showing, can you tell?  I'm going to attempt to post about being pregnant without mentioning to you all the miserable and horrible things that go with it.  Doh!  Another failure.  At least this time it was brief.  And only 7 or so more weeks to go.. 

 Mimic Grandma, pretending to be a snake?  Why, of course!

Kiddo with his cousins, uncle, and Grandpa. Kiddo wasn't in on the "strategy" part or the actual game play, but I'm sure he wasn't quite able to tell the difference!










I hope you enjoy the season - and spending time with your family!  I also hope to post again soon - perhaps with even more pictures!

Love: Family
Hope: Remainder of adventure is relatively tame
Do: Get moving today!
Number: 2912 - the four digits that were recently transposed to 2192 and I did not notice (and yet somehow, a few hours later, the number is still stuck in my mind!)

Wordless Wednesday

3 years, a new pet...

DH and I finally got around to celebrating our 3rd anniversary - it was the 6th, officially, and we opted to take care of the "easy" babysitting that daycare provides with a holiday Parents Night Out.  It was a magnificent day for me (with only a couple hiccups), and during pregnancy, those seem to sometimes be few and far between.

It was our Holiday event at work, which meant we got to skip out a tad bit early, which is always nice!  I came home - and didn't have to pick up Kiddo - and laid on the sofa, catching up on a bit of TV.  Then I took a nice relaxing bath, and even dressed up (read: makeup, blowdrying my hair, and jewlery!) for the occasion.

Once Hubby got home, he had our dinner spot picked out (a Mexican restaurant, not a dive and not a fancy place), along with an activity (a stroll through local business in search of a potential anniversary present).  My only request was pie for dessert.

As it turned out, we spent the night going "local."  Local eatery, local shopping, local dessert - - And did I say it was awesome?  Good company, and I was fairly relaxed.  Pretty good food, and we found a very quaint little store, where I will be back!

In our quest for an anniversary present, we found a match.  A little frivolous, a little silly - - but the kind of thing that is perfect for an anniversary.  A new pet.  Now, mind you, any four-legged creature coming into our house must get along well with two kids under 3, and two four-legged creatures (one in particular) who already run the house.  So, it suits that this particular pet is quite low maintenance.  This pet doesn't need to be fed, and doesn't shed.  It's very compliant (nodding "yes" often), and has a tail that wags.  It's a little big - but we are "big" dog people.  It's made of metal.  It's adorable.  I've named him Rusty.  Be sure to check back for a Wordless Wednesday picture of our new pal!

All-in-all, the perfect way to spend time with DH.  And to remember that at least sometimes, it's okay to be a little bit of a girl (with makeup and jewlery and all).  But mostly, to enjoy the company of my best friend and dearest companion.

Although I wish I could raise a toast to the love of my life, it doesn't seem right to toast with fruit-juice... so instead, I'll honor our relationship and the life that we share with a blog post.  (Wow.  Somehow that sounds so unromantic... maybe I'll think of better eventually!)

Love: My DH of 3 years
Hope: Our love continues to grow for many years to come.
Do: Need to finish getting Kiddo a couple of items for Xmas!
Number: 4 - the number of days we are into year #4 of our marriage!

Wordless Wednesday

Family...

For some reason, family has been on my mind a lot lately.   From the kicky-one in the belly to the father I still miss when visiting Kansas....It seems as though these and other thoughts and images of family keep swirling in my head... In so many ways, it is almost making me dizzy... I guess 'tis the season, eh?

Watching Parenthood, buying Christmas gifts, shopping with Kiddo.... maybe when I am forced to "settle" with the new baby, I will have time to sort through the many thoughts?  Hard to believe it's only 10 weeks ... or so... away!

It seems like I have been in "busy" mode, and somewhat unable to stop and smell the roses (or pine, as the season may be..)

As for now, I suppose it is back to Laundry and Christmas Presents, taking out the dogs and settling in for another night!

Is it just me, or do others once in a while feel like a "brain dump" is necessary?

Love: Family
Hope: Things eventually settle...
Do: Work on Christmas Cards?
Number: 12 more work days before the year is over!